Flocculation: What the floc is that all about?

As flocs grow, their settling velocities increase, despite their density decreasing.
The increased settling velocity improves water clarity as particles settle out faster from the water column.
In shallow water, as flocs have higher settling velocities than their individual particles, they settle faster and are therefore transported shorter distances, resulting in a decrease in overall sediment transport.
In deep water, increased settling velocities mean that particles sink to greater depths before they are remineralised, providing a vital food source to the deep ocean in the form of marine snow.